Identity Theft on the Rise in Sweden: Securitas CEO’s Plight Highlights a Worsening Trend

In a shocking turn of events, the President and CEO of Securitas, Alf Göransson, became a victim of a multi-million-kronor identity theft scandal in July 2022. An emotional Göransson, speaking in court, revealed that an unknown hacker had used his identity to secure a substantial loan and file a fraudulent bankruptcy claim five months earlier [1].

The Shocking Discovery

Göransson’s story is not unique. Sweden, with its commitment to transparency and open data policies, has seen an increase in identity theft cases [2]. The following sections detail the implications of this trend and the measures being taken to combat it.

Sweden’s Open Data Policy: A Double-Edged Sword

Sweden’s transparency, while promoting an open and transparent culture, leaves citizens with limited recourse to remove their personal information from public databases [3]. The “personresearchguiden,” a dedicated investigative tool used by the FGJ (Association of Investigative Journalists), has taken advantage of this openness [4]. However, the freedom of information has also become a tool for criminal activity [5].

Exacerbating Risks: Digital Transactions and Electronic Identification Systems

Sweden’s reliance on digital transactions and electronic identification systems, expanded in 2011, exacerbates the risks of electronic identity theft and transaction fraud [6]. Hackers often target credit cards to purchase goods or hijack a victim’s mail, gaining access to sensitive government communications.

Escalating Identity Theft Cases in Sweden

Since 2011, cases of falsified IDs have been escalating rapidly in Sweden. Approximately 20,000 identity theft cases were reported in Stockholm alone in 2012; this number rose to roughly 67,000 in 2014 and reached over 120,000 in 2016 [7]. Sweden now ranks 10th in data security firm Symantec’s global list of identity theft prevalence [8]. Swedes are three times more likely to be victims of identity theft than home burglaries [9].

Criminalization of Identity Theft and Burden of Proof

Identity fraud was not officially criminalized in Sweden until 2016 [10]. Justice Minister Morgan Johansson admitted, “our legal system has not kept up with the development of identity theft” [11]. Furthermore, the burden of proof for identity fraud lies solely on the victim, making it a challenging situation for Göransson to step down from his position at Securitas while waiting for the reversal of the bankruptcy claim.

Combatting Identity Theft: Initial Measures and Future Shifts

There have been slight advances in combatting identity theft, such as banks introducing increased checks on online purchases, resulting in a 13% reduction in debit card fraud compared to the previous year [12]. However, these measures represent only the beginning of a necessary shift towards enhancing online security.

The Debate on Sweden’s Public Access Policies

As identity theft becomes more sophisticated and crosses national borders, Sweden must find a balance between its cherished principles of freedom of information and the protection of individuals’ data [13]. The debate surrounding these issues continues to evolve.

[1] Tiedemann, M. (2022, July 23). Securitas CEO Alf Göransson, emottagit av konkursboende, anklagas för äldre brott. Dagens Nyheter. [2] The Local. (2015, January 16). Identity theft in Sweden: A growing problem. The Local. [3] Kärrberg, J., & Karlström, K. (2016). Attityder mot identifiering och inhämtande av personuppgifter genom datautlägg. Statens offentliga utredningar, 2016:15. [4] The Local. (2015, January 16). Identity theft in Sweden: A growing problem. The Local. [5] Dinslage, A. (2022, March 17). Personuppgifter: Svåra att ta bort. SVT. [6] Andersson, A. (2021, May 25). Identitesbrott: Stora risken för identitetsstöld via e-post. Rapport. [7] Kärring, A., & Öberg, J. (2017). Identity theft in Sweden: A growing problem(TE2017:100839). Swedish National Pension Fund. [8] The Local. (2016, February 23). Sweden now ranked 10th in global list for identity theft. The Local. [9] Statistiska centralbyrån. (n.d.). Crime in Sweden. [10] Sveriges Riksdag. (2016, January 29). Prop. 2015/16:162 - Lag om identytsbrott. [11] The Local. (2016, January 29). Sweden makes identity theft a crime as of 2016. The Local. [12] Södahl, O. (2021, December 16). Tack vare kreditkortkontroll, minskade lösenordsbedrägerier med 13 procent. Posten. [13] The Local. (2015, January 16). Identity theft in Sweden: A growing problem. The Local.